Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-03-16
NEW YORK FASHIONS.
THE RULE OF THREE-sPRING MATERIALS
-wooLs-c c0TToNs-sILK - MILLINERY
FLOWERS

| FLOWERS
| from our Female Fashion Correspondent
| The fashionable world will this season be
ruled by three ideas, checks, plaids and
| stripes. Much of semi dress will in conse-
qucnce be exhibited on dress occasions, for
| say what you please. there is an essential
| lneleganc' IL these stiff lines which may by
skilful adaptation and juxtapositien, ex-
press Jauntiness but never high refinement
Tney may be made furthermore, to perform
arithmetical problems of addition, subtrac-
| tion, multiplication or division, but they
never reach the soft beauty of the lily or
breathe the poetry of the rose. Stout peo-
pie can seize upon stripes, by which to
produce an optical delusion of slenderness !;
slender people can broaden themselves by
plaids, and BY aid of all three, a great deal
of new coquetry can be furnished up for
the summers campaign. Beyond this,
nothing. The. diagonal craze of the fall
has iu great measure succumbed to these
three thoughts. There are diagonals, bat
they are not what they might have beeu.-
Serges are so woven but fashion soon goes
of in the direction of stripes or bars
CamePs hair goods are brought out in
| with hair lines Tor the upper while other
woods show combinations of three Large
plaids for the lower skirt, smaller for the
upper and plain goods for the csrsage.
This thought indeed finds reIe itiou in all
classes Of goods, both silk aud COTTON
Ginghams of charming newness are white
with narrow stripes set at intervals aud
both cattOns and wools are diversified by
knotted threads running transversely or
perpendicularIy favorite idea bsisg that
of stripes for the lower part of the skirt
with plaids or cross-bars for the overskirt.
Both combined for the corsage.
FLOWERS.
But while three ideas rule, they are not
Gespotic and leave room for other things
which indeed occasionally show as inter-
lOpers even within the limit of lines, as for
example, where very small fl ,wers are set
in stripes this being noticeable in all
classes of materials. Satteens again are
wrought in such skilled resemblance to
India silks that the eye is readily deceived
The same soft shimmer, like gentle glow
of color, al equal blending of Harmonious
hue and similar choice of buds and bios
soms Que asks if these can be cottons
and it is no surprise to learn that unlike
cations, they cannot descend to the wash
iub, but must be cleaned by professionals
Yet as the ground works are colored, with
careful nsP, they last for long time in
good condition and one cleaning does not
cost more than repeated laundryings. -
Stamped challis are poems, presenting an
assem- blage of sprays and flowers pretty
enough to soften the most cynical heart
and seem the destined clothing of fresh
young beauty. Silks complete the picture
and with the peculiar prestige of silk, save
us from sameness and teach us lesson of
supe,i lori y to straight lines, bars and cross
bais however modified, as on many occa-
sipns by wlit IS callld broken bars" and
the subtle;ies of French colorings. Lord
& Taylor inform us furthermore that
BoNNETs
are still narrow and high trimmed hats
high with high ga niture resting against
the crown. F"r general wear, an assert
m"nt f rough, Milan and satin straws
while dressier styles are of delicate fancy
straw or creations of net or the embroIder-
ed gauze that is SO marked feature in
spring millinery A great deal of trim
ming is done with it and it is often used
instead of lace The most noteworthy
feature in millinery is, however, the re-
vival of very small flowers frequently set
in ceronets, but usually having high
spray in the centre, or again one sees only
spray of small flowers supported by en-
broidery or feathers. Other favorite flow
ers rot SO small, are the omnpresent rose
and rosebud byacinths and jonquils, &C.
ceptable because of high-reared heads,
tulips, xenias, buttercups and primroses
soughs after because of their fashionable
yellow; thistles and cat tails, because
bristling, and high-ribbons are still with
looped edges, punches of the narrow (seme-
times extremely SOY producing the bristling
effect so coveted, while great novelty is
brought about by ribbons which are
wrought in stripes of different colors and
fabric set togetber-pe.haps velvet, gros
grain and satin. Unique ribbons are quite
narrow and are com posed Of extremely
small fpra patterns with pronounced loops
on both sides Other ribbons are cou-
spicuously plaided, and when wide give a
look of great boldness TO the front trim
ming, (for still in vogue are the high
looped bows, iu 'front.' or when nrrrow,
complete the jauntiness Of which plaids are
capable.
SPRING WRAPS
are extremely snort at the DacK, reaching
little, if any, below the waist line, but with
long pointed ends in front. The great
popularity of jet trimming causes demand
fnr PLAN ma, eri,l since that only * capable
of "perly showing off The rich indepen-
dent pieces or the one, grand collar with
ends in trout and reaching
tn the shoulders. Jackets are far less ex-
pensve and in large demand for young
ladies with ender figures. Close fitting,
usually single. breasted, short on the hips
and in The back with high standing collar.
independent jackets are of mixed cloth in
inconsp,cuous shades of gray, brown or
blue. and in small check patterns, but a
very ftyOrite idea is to have cloth jacket
to compete the costume. / can never
mention ickets without the inclination to
warn stout people, whether Old or young,
against them. To a well-deveoped, mid
le-aged woman, they are disastrous, and
for this latter class, will come raglans of
light cloth, especially becoming TO them
and far moro 50 than Newmarket shapes
which belong to the slender. High hats,
huge bustles, choked necks, yet another
season. No great change in outline there
fore but only in materials
RosALIND MAY.
Weather Errors.
Few erroneous notions are spread so read